Can ischemia-reperfusion syndrome in transplanted kidneys procured from non-heart-beating donors be influenced by adding selenium into the reperfusion solution? An experimental study.

Ischemia-reperfusion syndrome significantly influences the function of a kidney transplanted from a non-heart-beating donor (NHBD). An animal model of NHBD was used to monitor the influence of the exogenous addition of selenium in the perfusion solution (HTK, Custodiol) on the generation of free oxygen radicals between 0 and 120 minutes after transplantation of the NHBD organ. During this interval, the malondialdehyde concentration, an indicator of free oxygen radicals in the venous blood of the transplanted kidney, significantly decreased. The augmentation of the anti-oxidant capacity of the preservation solution might represent a possible improvement in the function of kidneys transplanted from NHBDs.